Reporter: Cam Newton's Comments Are a Cam Newton Problem

KING 5's Chris Daniels reports

Travis Pittman , KING8:33 AM. EDT October 06, 2017

Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers looks on during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (Photo: Maddie Meyer, 2017 Getty Images)

A female sports journalist from Seattle says comments from Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton that some have called sexist are more a reflection of Newton and not of male athletes as a whole.

"I just kind of just rolled my eyes and thought 'Cam just put himself in a lot of hot water.' And over something completely unnecessary and definitely insulting," said 710 ESPN Seattle's Jessamyn McIntyre. "The reporter had every right to be insulted."

McIntyre, a sideline reporter for Washington State Cougars football radio broadcasts, said she was not surprised by Newton's comments given his history. But she also said she didn't get fired up about it because she believes that Cam Newton was representing himself and that she is not treated that way by athletes.

"I don't think (NFL players) find it funny. I personally have always been treated like a member of the media in a friendly manner," said McIntyre. "I've taken criticism as well, and I don't think I've ever been treated differently in the majority of my dealings when it comes to, not just NFL players but, athletes in general."

While Cam Newton's comments are disappointing at best, I'm glad in my experience the athletes and colleagues I work with, around and for do not reflect his way of thinking. I believe he's in the minority and hope I'm right about that.

Newton posted a video apology Thursday night on his Twitter account. He cited his two daughters as a reason for the apology.

"At their age, I try to instill in them that they can do and be anything that they want to be. The fact that during this process I've already lost sponsors and countless fans, I realized that the joke is really on me. And I've learned a valuable lesson from this. To the young people who see this, I hope that you learn something from this as well. Don't be like me; be better than me," Newton said.

McIntryre says she hopes this episode will not give others the perception of a widespread problem.

"Although it still exists, and I'm not denying it, I don't think that is the way. I think that we have made a lot of strides and by making this the big headline that everyone's going to read, it diminishes where we are right now by saying we are still back 20, 30, 40 years ago when we didn't have the headway that we've made right now." said McIntyre. "I hope we look at this as a Cam Newton problem, not an athlete problem."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said he hadn't seen Newton's press conference when asked about it Thursday afternoon. He offered a message of equality as he also discussed the women in his life.

"I've got a daughter. I have my sister who's a tremendous basketball player. A tremendous athlete. Knows sports really well," Wilson said. "I think about the women I have in my life. They probably know more about sports than I do."

Rodrigue, however, also came under fire Thursday. She had to apologize for a tweet from over four years ago which had racial overtones. That tweet has since been deleted.

"I apologize for the offensive tweets from my Twitter account 4/5 years ago," Rodrigue said in a Twitter statement. "There is no excuse for these tweets and the sentiment behind them. I am deeply sorry and apologize."